The Oera Linda Book, from a Manuscript of the Thirteenth Century
History
The Oera Linda Book, from a Manuscript of the Thirteenth Century
Frisian language -- Texts
That every creature is a part of Wr-alda's eternal being, that they
have stolen from us; but their false reasoning and ungovernable pride
have brought them on the road to ruin. If their spirit was Wr-alda's
spirit, then Wr-alda would be very stupid, instead of being sensible
and wise; for their spirit labours to create beautiful statues,
which they afterwards worship. Finda's people are a wicked people,
for although they presumptuously pretend among themselves that they
are gods, they proclaim the unconsecrated false gods, and declare
everywhere that these idols created the world and all that therein
is--greedy idols, full of envy and anger, who desire to be served
and honoured by the people, and who exact bloody sacrifices and rich
offerings; but these presumptuous and false men, who call themselves
God's servants and priests, receive and collect everything in the
name of the idols that have no real existence, for their own benefit.
They do all this with an easy conscience, as they think themselves
gods not answerable to any one. If there are some who discover their
tricks and expose them, they hand them over to the executioners to
be burnt for their calumnies, with solemn ceremonies in honour of the
false gods; but really in order to save themselves. In order that our
children may be protected against their idolatrous doctrine, the duty
of the maidens is to make them learn by heart the following: Wr-alda
existed before all things, and will endure after all things. Wr-alda
is also eternal and everlasting, therefore nothing exists without
him. From Wr-alda's life sprang time and all living things, and his
life takes away time and every other thing. These things must be made
clear and manifest in every way, so that they can be made clear and
comprehensible to all. When we have learned thus much, then we say
further: In what regards our existence, we are a part of Wr-alda's
everlasting being, like the existence of all created beings; but as
regards our form, our qualities, our spirit, and all our thoughts,
these do not belong to the being. All these are passing things which
appear through Wr-alda's life, and which appear through his wisdom,
and not otherwise; but whereas his life is continually progressing,
nothing can remain stationary, therefore all created things change
their locality, their form, and their thoughts. So neither the earth
nor any other created object can say, I am; but rather, I was. So no
man can say, I think; but rather, I thought. The boy is greater and
different from the child; he has different desires, inclinations,
and thoughts. The man and father feels and thinks differently from
the boy, the old man just the same. Everybody knows that. Besides,
everybody knows and must acknowledge that he is now changing, that he
changes every minute even while he says, I am, and that his thoughts
change even while he says, I think. Instead, then, of imitating
Finda's wicked people, and saying, I am the best part of Wr-alda,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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